Illustration of manatee
manatee
noun
man·a·tee
ˈma-nə-ˌtē 
: any of a genus (Trichechus of the family Trichechidae) of large, herbivorous, aquatic mammals that inhabit warm coastal and inland waters of the southeastern U.S., West Indies, northern South America, and West Africa and have a rounded body, a small head with a squarish snout, paddle-shaped flippers usually with vestigial nails, and a flattened, rounded tail used for propulsion
Note: Manatees are sirenians related to and resembling the dugong but differing most notably in the shape of the tail.
An aquatic relative of the elephant, manatees grow up to nine feet long and can weigh 1,000 pounds.—
Felicity Barringer
Felicity Barringer
Examples of manatee in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Tropical fish, octopuses, and rays account for the usual suspects, while lucky sightings include seahorses, sea turtles, and even manatees.
—Gina Kramer, USA TODAY, 24 Oct. 2024
Those who prefer to stay dry can look for manatees; dine at waterfront spots along Englewood’s coast, bay, and creeks; or catch a car show or festival downtown.
—Ashley Cusick, Southern Living, 23 Oct. 2024
Finalists for 2025 Indianapolis Prize:Helping protect parrots, manatees, jaguars and more
Who are the 2025 Emerging Conservationist finalists?
—Karl Schneider, The Indianapolis Star, 17 Oct. 2024
Still, the sight of a manatee in a manmade lake in the Cedarwoods community of Pembroke Pines after the Fourth of July holiday bemused some of the residents, according to a WPLG Local 10 report.
—Howard Cohen, Miami Herald, 6 July 2024
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Gina Kramer, USA TODAY, 24 Oct. 2024
Those who prefer to stay dry can look for manatees; dine at waterfront spots along Englewood’s coast, bay, and creeks; or catch a car show or festival downtown.
—Ashley Cusick, Southern Living, 23 Oct. 2024
Finalists for 2025 Indianapolis Prize:Helping protect parrots, manatees, jaguars and more
Who are the 2025 Emerging Conservationist finalists?
—Karl Schneider, The Indianapolis Star, 17 Oct. 2024
Still, the sight of a manatee in a manmade lake in the Cedarwoods community of Pembroke Pines after the Fourth of July holiday bemused some of the residents, according to a WPLG Local 10 report.
—Howard Cohen, Miami Herald, 6 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for manatee
Dictionary Entries Near manatee
Cite this Entry
“Manatee.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/manatee. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
manatee
noun
man·a·tee
ˈman-ə-ˌtē
: any of several chiefly tropical water-dwelling mammals that eat plants and differ from the related dugong especially in having the tail broad and rounded
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